Eddie Maier, deputy head of unit at the European Commission Directorate-General for International Cooperation and Development’s Instrument for Stability and Nuclear Safety, discussed nuclear safety and the regional projects and activities of the International Science and Technology Centre (ISTC) in Central Asia in a recent interview with The Astana Times.

The European Union, the International Science and Technology Centre (ISTC) together with the Kazakh Ministry of Investments and Development launched Oct. 12 the second project on export control of dual use goods and technologies, marking another step in strengthening the long-term partnership and cooperation between the two sides.

The problems of regional cooperation are sought by the five Caspian littoral states. Such a partnership today is uncontested, but there are a number of obstacles to its development. But there is growing awareness that they can be overcome only together. For example, the legal status of the Caspian is still not regulated, although there is a hope that this problem will be resolved in 2018.

Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev said on Thursday that he had agreed with Russian President Vladimir Putin to develop the Russian-Kazakh project at the Baikonur cosmodrome that Russia leases from Kazakhstan.

The past presidential elections in Kyrgyzstan had every chance to remain in history, like a vote that will bring the line under the epoch of instability and signify the first full-fledged, peaceful transit of power in the republic. From the acting president to the end of his term, he is legally elected head of state. These elections will remain in history. But in a completely different capacity. As the most ambiguous in the annals of the whole region.

On October 5th, Air Chief Marshal B S Dhanoa, the chief of the air staff, said, 'The Indian Air Force is capable of effectively countering any threat from China while engaging in a two-front war also involving Pakistan.'